Trench for storing and/or seeping/retaining surface water

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a trench for storing and seeping or retaining or filtering surface water, comprising at least one trench member that is composed of several supporting elements which are interconnected by means of additional elements. Preferably, each supporting element is a frame element that is composed of interconnected profiled sections.

The invention relates to a trench for storage and seepage or retention or filtering of surface water, having a trench body.

Rainwater or melt water that occurs in the region of traffic areas, such as roads, plazas, courtyards, is carried away from these areas and passed back into the water cycle. A large part of this surface water, or also drain water, is allowed to seep away, in this connection, whereby in the case of sealed surfaces, artificial seepage space has to be created because of the large volume of rainwater that occurs. Trenches of the type stated serve for this purpose.

A known trench has at least one trench body that is disposed in the ground. An incoming water line leads to the trench body, so that the trench body can take up surface water that is passed to it. The trench body is, characterized in that it can store the water within its body, and can give it off to the ground that surrounds the trench body, and/or can conduct it away into the sewer system or into a receiving water course.

Trench bodies are known from the state of the art, which are composed of a plurality of system elements made of injection-molded plastic. Each system element is configured in block shape, for example; it has outer wall sections and inner braces. Such a system element is known, for example, from DE 20 2004 018 319.6. The system elements are disposed on top of and next to one another, as individual elements, and thereby form a trench body as a whole. Because of the lattice structures within each system element, the trench body cannot be walked through and inspected after it has been completed, since it is not possible to penetrate into the interior of the trench body. Furthermore, it must be taken into consideration that the support capacity of the system elements, which are made from injection-molded thermoplastic plastic, is limited, so that a very limited range of the ability to withstand stress results for the known trench bodies. Finally, there is also the problem of transporting the block-shaped system elements, as such, to the construction site, and generally, it is not possible to reduce space during transport, since the volume of the system elements cannot be changed so as to save space.

The invention is based on the task of indicating a trench of the type stated initially, which can be universally used and can be transported over longer distances more inexpensively.

This task is accomplished, according to the invention, in that the trench body is composed of multiple support elements, which are connected with one another by means of additional elements.

In the trench according to the invention, no pre-finished injection-molded system elements are used to form a trench body. Instead, support elements are used, from which the trench body is formed. The trench body is assembled from multiple support elements. Other elements are used in this assembly process, so that in total, a trench body can be formed. Assembly of the trench body from different elements takes place, but not by means of laying system elements that have the same construction on top of or next to one another.

According to a first alternative, each support element can be a frame element that is composed of multiple profiles connected with one another, whereby the frame elements are preferably connected with one another by means of profiles. The profiles form the additional elements with which the support elements, which are configured as frame elements, are connected.

Each frame element is assembled from profiles that are connected with one another. The frame elements are thus formed from profiles, within a plane; they can therefore be transported lying flat on top of one another or standing closely next to one another, on the loading surface of a truck. It is not a finished trench body that is transported, also not already finished system elements of the trench body; rather, only components of the trench body that are compacted in the transport state are transported.

The frame elements are connected with one another by means of additional profiles. In this way, an overall modular architecture is obtained, whereby the distance between frame elements that are adjacent to one another can vary.

The number of profiles within a frame element, for absorbing the forces that occur, can also be freely selected.

Each profile of the frame elements is preferably configured in the shape of a bar. The profile cross-section in terms of width and height can vary, so that the forces that occur can be reliably absorbed.

The profiles, as additional elements, are preferably fitted out with an angular contour, which can lie against sections of the frame elements with its angles. For example, the profiles are configured as L profiles; they can lie against corners of the frame elements with the angle of the L.

Alternatively, it can be provided that each support element is a wall element. Wall elements can be set up at a distance from one another, so that spaces can be formed between them. Then, no frame-like configurations are used, but there are enough spaces to accommodate the water as the result of the distances between the individual wall elements.

The profiles of the frame elements and the profiles as additional elements have a distance from one another, in each instance, that is 1 meter, for example. In order to cover this distance and to prevent penetration of soil into the interior of the trench body, according to a further development, the trench has at least one cover element that is laid against a section of the trench body. The cover element bridges the distance between profiles that are adjacent to one another. For example, it is configured as a lattice panel or support panel, so that the cover element is water-permeable. The individual perforations of the panel can be covered with a geotextile material that is laid onto the panel.

In place of a geotextile material, a water-impermeable surface element can also be laid onto the cover element, for example in order to keep water that flows out of the trench body away from specific regions. The water-impermeable surface element can be a sealing strip. In place of lattices, supportive meshes, plastic profile panels, or a concrete cover can also be put into place.

For a further embodiment of the invention, it can also be provided that a line section is disposed in the interior of the trench body. This line section can take up fluid that is introduced, or can distribute it over different regions of the trench body. Furthermore, a sediment segment or substrate filter segment can be formed within a line section, in order to use the water that flows through the line section for cleaning of the trench. In this connection, the line section can be a pipe that is closed over about 270°, whose opening is oriented in the direction of the trench ceiling. The line section can serve for cleaning and distribution of the water into the trench body, also for camera inspection and flushing, as well as for an inspection possibility that allows walk-in access.

A filter substrate can be introduced, in replaceable manner, in the region of the trench floor, also outside of the line section. If the vertically disposed profiles of the frame elements have a length of two meters, for example, then there is a corresponding clear height within the trench body. The trench body can then be entered and inspected. A filter substrate introduced in the region of the trench floor can be replaced, and sedimentation deposits can be removed, in order to restore function at full seepage power.

A filter shaft can be set onto the trench body, to which shaft incoming water lines can be connected. The trench body has a mechanical strength sufficient to carry the filter shaft. At the same time, the filter shaft can serve as an inspection shaft for access to the interior of the trench body.

The profiles and the profiles as additional elements are preferably produced from plastic. This it not thermoplastic plastic such as that used for an injection-molded product as an individual element of a trench body, for example, but rather a duroplastic, fiber-reinforced plastic having significantly greater strength. Alternatively, a corrosion-resistant metal material can be used.

If wall elements are used as support elements, then these wall elements can be produced from a concrete material. Concrete is able to absorb the required forces, and further can be produced inexpensively. The wall elements can be produced from finished concrete parts, so that the costs are minimized, in the form of mass production.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention, from which other inventive characteristics are evident, are shown in the drawing. This shows:

FIG. 1: a frame element as a first exemplary embodiment of a support element for a trench body of a trench;

FIG. 2: a trench body composed of multiple frame elements according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3: a trench body with cover elements;

FIG. 4: a trench body with additional cover elements;

FIG. 5: a trench body according to FIG. 2, which has been buried in the ground, with a filter shaft;

FIG. 6: a wall element as a second exemplary embodiment of a support element for a trench body of a trench;

FIG. 7: a part of a trench body composed of two wall elements as well as another wall element;

FIG. 8: a part of another trench body composed of two wall elements as well as another wall element;

FIG. 9 a perspective view of a trench body, composed of wall elements according to FIG. 7, and

FIG. 10 a perspective view of another trench body, composed of wall elements according to FIG. 8.

The frame element 1 in FIG. 1 is formed from profiles 2, 3 that are connected with one another. The profiles 2, 3 are disposed in one and the same plane; the profiles 3 run horizontally in the installed state of the frame elements 1 shown in FIG. 2, while the profiles 2 are disposed vertically in the installed state.

In FIG. 2, five frame elements 1 are placed next to one another and connected with one another using additional profiles 4. In total, a block-shaped trench body is thereby formed. The other profiles 4 are configured as L profiles; they lie against corner formations of the frame elements 1. Other intermediate spacer profiles between the frame elements are possible.

FIG. 3 shows that the distance between individual profiles, for example between horizontally oriented profiles 3, can be bridged by cover elements configured as lattices 5. Lattices 5 are also disposed on vertical sections of the trench body, in order to bridge the distance between profiles 2 that stand vertically or other profiles 4. A water-permeable geotextile material 6 is laid onto the lattices 5.

A line section is introduced into the interior of the trench body; this is configured as a pipe 8. The pipe is closed over about 270°, and open at the top. A filter substrate 7 is introduced into the regions of the trench floor that are not covered by the pipe 8. The person 9 indicated in the interior of the trench body shows the construction height of the trench body that is achieved, and a possibility for walk-in inspection.

FIG. 4 shows that a water-impermeable film 10 can also be laid onto the lattice 5 on the outside of the trench body, aside from the placement of the lattice 5 with a geotextile 6. In place of a lattice 5, closed or open constructions, such as trapezoid panels 11 or concrete panels 12, can also be laid on.

FIG. 5 shows the assignment of the trench body to a road a parking lot 13 next to which a seepage hollow 14 is disposed. Water that runs off the road 13 can enter into the trench body by way of a filter shaft 15 or by way of the seepage hollow 14. When the water flows along the arrow 16, through the bottom of the seepage hollow 14, cleaning of the water can take place at the same time, since a filter substrate 7 has been introduced into the bottom of the seepage hollow 14. A filter substrate 7 can also be introduced in the region of the lateral wall exit surface. A direct incoming line can be connected with a connector 17 of the filter shaft 15; further filtering can take place by way of the substrate filter layer within the trench body.

In the alternative shown in FIG. 6, the support element is configured as a wall element 17 made of concrete. It is possible to configure part of the trench body with such wall elements 17, together with other wall elements, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In FIG. 7, a wall plate 18 is combined with two wall elements 17. The wall plate 18 is provided with a perforation 19 a, and a pipe 8 can be passed through this perforation 19 a.

In the part of a trench body according to FIG. 8, once again essentially a frame element is present. The wall elements 17 are combined with bar-shaped wall elements 19.

In FIG. 9, the trench body is formed from multiple arrangements of wall elements 17 and wall plates 18. The wall plates 18 are disposed parallel to one another; their perforations 19 a align with one another.

In FIG. 10, as well, the frame elements are disposed parallel to one another. In this connection, the distance between the individual frame elements can be freely selected. 

1. Trench for storage and seepage or retention or filtering of surface water, having at least one trench body, wherein the trench body is composed of multiple support elements that are connected with one another by means of additional elements.
 2. Trench according to claim 1, wherein each support element is a frame element (1) that is composed of profiles (2, 3) that are connected with one another.
 3. Trench according to claim 1, wherein the additional elements are profiles (4).
 4. Trench according to claim 2, wherein the profiles (2, 3) of the frame elements (1) are configured in bar shape.
 5. Trench according to claim 1, wherein the profiles (4) have an angular contour.
 6. Trench according to claim 5, wherein the profiles (4) are configured as L profiles.
 7. Trench according to claim 1, wherein each support element is a wall element (17, 18, 19).
 8. Trench according to claim 1, wherein it comprises at least one cover element that is laid against a section of the trench body.
 9. Trench according to claim 8, wherein the cover element is a lattice panel or support panel (5).
 10. Trench according to claim 9, wherein a geotextile material (6) is laid onto the lattice panel or support panel (5).
 11. Trench according to claim 8, wherein the cover element is a water-impermeable surface element.
 12. Trench according to claim 1, wherein a line section is disposed in the interior of the trench body.
 13. Trench according to claim 12, wherein the line section is configured as a pipe (8) that is closed over about 270°, whose opening is oriented in the direction of the trench ceiling.
 14. Trench according to claim 1, wherein a filter substrate (7) is replaceably introduced in the region of the trench floor and/or the trench walls.
 15. Trench according to claim 1, wherein a filter shaft (15) is set onto the trench body, to which shaft incoming water lines can be connected.
 16. Trench according to claim 1, wherein the profiles (2, 3) and the profiles (5) are made from a plastic.
 17. Trench according to claim 16, wherein the plastic is a duroplastic.
 18. Trench according to claim 16, wherein the plastic is a fiber-reinforced plastic.
 19. Trench according to claim 1, wherein the profiles (2, 3) and the profiles (5) are produced from a metal material or from concrete.
 20. Trench according to claim 7, wherein the wall element (17, 18, 19) is produced from concrete. 